Catholic Church excommunicates saintly sister for approving abortion.
By coffeechat
@coffeechat (1961)
New Zealand
May 29, 2010 9:19pm CST
The full news items is available here http://tinyurl.com/2u78snm
[i]Sister Margaret McBride of Phoenix, Ariz., was excommunicated from the Catholic Church after approving an abortion that saved a woman’s life. The controversial move has raised eyebrows, causing many to take a second look at the institution’s antiquated ideology.
The nun was on the Ethics Committee of St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, which oversaw the decision to terminate the pregnancy of a 27-year-old woman who would have otherwise died. The mother of four had a medical condition called pulmonary hypertension, and doctors agreed that continuing her 11-week pregnancy probably would have killed her.
Catholic leaders teach that an abortion is always sinful and that the baby’s health should be prioritized over the mother’s. Phoenix Bishop Thomas Olmsted automatically excommunicated this nun--described by hospital staff as kind, humble and saintly--because the medical decision to abort countered that ideology.[/i]
Do you think the Catholic Church did the right thing here? What would you do if you were the Pope?
3 people like this
7 responses
@evepin (721)
• Philippines
30 May 10
hmmm. that is weird because i've always thought (and i know we were taught this) that though abortion is considered a sin, doing so in order to save the mother is more important aka "the lesser evil." oh well. for me i think she shouldn't be excommunicated.
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
30 May 10
An abortion is a medical procedure carried out with the intention of ending the life of the unborn but, as I understand it, the operation you described is not an abortion since the intention was to save the life of the woman, no one should object to that
all the best urban
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
30 May 10
Well said Urban,
But the Catholic Church excommunicated the Sister who helped take the decision.
What do you think.
Cheers.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
30 May 10
Well Christians follow Christ, Catholics follow...
Seriously, it is up to no man to stand between a believer and God
all the best urban
@max1950 (2306)
• United States
30 May 10
being catholic myself i thought excommunication went out with eating fish on fridays, but i guess not. the pope has his hands tied by centuries of catholic law which hardly ever changes. i do think however the bishop made the wrong decision, and some of them in charge have their heads up their as$'s.
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
30 May 10
True Max. The Pope does have his hands tied. Minimally he has to balance the power of the Cardinals. This excommunication seems to be part of a double standard.
The Church believes that the life of the unborn baby is more valuable than the life of the mother.
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
30 May 10
Once again one must question the leadership of the catholic church. As for the nun, she has no worries when it comes to God. She has been hurt by her church, however God is using her to bring issues out for the church to deal with and for people to see the truth. Good for her!!!!
@ShadowofHope2010 (173)
• United States
30 May 10
No religion is perfect. I think that if it would've ended hr life, she did the right thing. But, then again, she should've been more careful. But each religion DOES have there own ideology, and they have to stick to it, or everyone else will try to find loop holes also.
I personally would've done the same thing as the nun, because that would've killed the woman and left 4 children motherless.
I do not condone any kind of abortions unless it was in a situation like this. These kind of rules have caused me to become a non-denominational Christian, because Catholic are also against gays, and didn't Jesus teach us to accept everybody, no matter what?
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
30 May 10
Does not the Catholic Church realize that the excommunication of responsible members willing to make decisions is indicative of a dying institution? This sort of behavior (kicking out good people) is typical in any poorly run organization.
The Catholic Church will either reform itself or fade away to nothing more than a historical cult considered to be practicing an old form of superstition. Perhaps, anthropology professors of the future will join in order to study it.
WELCOME BACK!
